BILL NUMBER: SB 1352	CHAPTERED  09/05/00

	CHAPTER   300
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   SEPTEMBER 5, 2000
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   SEPTEMBER 1, 2000
	PASSED THE SENATE   AUGUST 22, 2000
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   AUGUST 18, 2000
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   JULY 6, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   MARCH 23, 2000

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Alpert

                        JANUARY 13, 2000

   An act to amend Sections 18987, 18987.15, 18987.16, 18987.17,
18987.2, 18987.3, 18987.36, 18987.4 and 18987.5 of the Welfare and
Institutions Code, relating to children.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1352, Alpert.  Children:  youth pilot program.
   Existing law authorizes designated participating counties to
establish a child and family interagency coordinating council to
implement various aspects of a pilot program.  Under the pilot
program, various children's services funds may be transferred to a
designated county fund for specified services for children and
families.
   Existing law requires the programs to be implemented on January 1,
1995, July 1, 1995, or January 1, 1996, and terminates the programs
on July 1, 2002.
   This bill would extend the duration of the programs until July 1,
2004.  The bill would require counties participating in the extended
pilot program to submit updated strategic plans not later than March
31, 2001.
   Existing law requires the Governor to be responsible for certain
duties with respect to the administration, implementation, and
evaluation of the pilot program.
   This bill would transfer these responsibilities for the pilot
program to the California Health and Human Services Agency and would
add to those responsibilities.
   Existing law requires that an evaluation of the pilot programs be
conducted by an independent organization, only if nonstate funds are
made available for this purpose.
   This bill would require the evaluation to consist of a specified
baseline and a final report and delete the condition that nonstate
funds be made available for this purpose.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares the following:
   (a) The Youth Pilot Program, implemented under the authority of
Chapter 951 of the Statutes of 1993, has shown promise as a method of
increasing state support for local integration of services to
high-risk, multineed children and families.
   (b) A number of factors, including a lack of flexibility in
federal programs and funding, delays in state approvals for local
strategies, and the impact of welfare reform and reorganization
efforts at the county level have precluded adequate evaluation of the
outcomes of the program within the five-year timeframe called for in
the initial legislation.
   (c) Several changes have occurred that would allow this evaluation
to take place if the program were to be extended beyond the initial
five years.
   (d) A newly implemented federal initiative, Better Opportunities
and Outcomes Starting Today (known as BOOST FOR KIDS), creates the
opportunity to add a federal technical assistance component to this
pilot program by providing a federal team to work with state and
local partners for better results for children and families.
   (e) State processes are in place to provide technical assistance
and flexibility to counties in removing barriers to the
implementation of their strategic plans.
   (f) The impacts of welfare reform and county reorganizations have
diminished allowing counties to focus on full implementation and
evaluation of their strategic plans.
   (g) Strategic plan revisions resulting from early barriers are in
place in most counties and counties have revised performance
indicators and outcome measures to better reflect and achieve each
county's goals, objectives, and outcomes.
   (h) An extension of the pilot program would provide the time
necessary to fully test and evaluate the innovative strategies that
have been implemented, and that are scheduled to be implemented in
the last year of the initial pilot program.
  SEC. 2.  Section 18987 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:
   18987.  (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law related to
the funding and delivery of state programs and services specified in
this section, designated counties, if they comply with the provisions
of this chapter, shall be authorized to transfer, to the extent
possible, into a county child and family services fund, for the
duration of the pilot program established by this chapter, some or
all funds for the following services for children and families:
   (1) Adoption services.
   (2) Child abuse prevention services.
   (3) Child welfare services.
   (4) Delinquency prevention services.
   (5) Drug and alcohol services.
   (6) Eligibility determination.
   (7) Employment and training services.
   (8) Foster care services.
   (9) Health services.
   (10) Juvenile facilities.
   (11) Mental health services.
   (12) Probation services.
   (13) Housing.
   (14) Youth development services.
   (15) All other appropriately identified and targeted services for
children and families.
   (b) Local education agencies, cities, or private, nonprofit
agencies may also allocate funds to the county child and family
services fund for recreation, juvenile justice, or other services
provided to children and families.
   (c) The county child and family services fund shall be used to
fund comprehensive, integrated services for high-risk, children and
families with multiple needs in alternative and innovative ways, as
detailed in county strategic plans.  The fund may be used to provide
services in a designated geographical area within the county or to a
targeted population.
  SEC. 3.  Section 18987.15 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:
   18987.15.  The California Health and Human Services Agency shall
be responsible for all of the following:
   (a) Facilitating any state interagency coordination necessary for
the implementation of a participating county's plan.
   (b) Coordinating technical assistance to the counties
participating in the pilot program.
   (c) Applying to the federal government, where appropriate and
feasible, for federal waivers necessary to carry out or enhance
projects under the pilot program.
   (d) Monitoring county compliance with the requirements of this
chapter.
   (e) Seeking nonstate resources to conduct county evaluations
pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 18987.3.
   (f) Establishing performance outcomes for measuring the success of
the state level implementation of the pilot program.
  SEC. 4.  Section 18987.16 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:
   18987.16.  (a) The Legislature finds that an evaluation is both
desirable and necessary to assess the effectiveness of the pilot
program provided for in this chapter.
   (b) Therefore, the California Health and Human Services Agency
shall cause an evaluation of the pilot program to be conducted by an
independent organization.  This evaluation shall consist of a
baseline and a final report.  The independent evaluator shall review
the updated strategic plans submitted by the counties pursuant to
subdivision (f) of Section 18987.2 and, on or before June 30, 2001,
shall compile a baseline report summarizing the performance outcomes
and indicators chosen by each of the six participating counties.
This report shall also list the performance outcomes against which
state performance in the pilot program shall be evaluated.  A final
evaluation of the pilot program shall be submitted to the Governor
and the Legislature on June 30, 2003.  This evaluation shall include
an analysis of county performance outcomes as compared to baseline
performance, an analysis of state performance outcomes in
implementing the pilot program, and a discussion of whether these
state actions were associated with improved outcomes at the local
level as reported in the county evaluations submitted pursuant to
subdivision (c) of Section 18987.36.  The California Health and Human
Services Agency shall seek the advice and input of the Legislature
on the framework of the evaluation.
  SEC. 5.  Section 18987.17 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:
   18987.17.  (a) Pursuant to this chapter, the California Health and
Human Services Agency or the Secretary of the Youth and Adult
Correctional Agency, as appropriate, may approve a request submitted
by a county selected pursuant to Section 18987.05, to implement an
alternative method for meeting specific state statutory requirements
in the county's strategic plan.  The secretary of the approving
agency shall only approve a request when the coordinating council of
the requesting county has certified, and the secretary has
determined, that all of the following criteria have been met:
   (1) The council has developed a specific alternative method for
achieving the intent of the statute in question.
   (2) The council's proposed alternative is consistent with this
chapter and the intent of the statutory requirements governing the
programs proposed for integration in the county's strategic plan.
   (3) Approval of the request is essential to achieve one or more
objectives of the strategic plan.
   (4) The objective of the strategic plan cannot be achieved solely
through waiver of regulation.
   (b) A request subject to this section may not be approved for a
period that exceeds the length of the pilot program authorized under
this chapter, but may be approved for a shorter period as determined
by the approving secretary.
   (c) Prior to approving any request by a county under this section,
the approving secretary shall provide written notification to the
chairperson of the appropriate policy committee in each house of the
Legislature.  Final approval shall not occur until 30 days after this
written notification is provided.
  SEC. 6.  Section 18987.2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:
   18987.2.  (a) (1) In order to participate in the pilot program
authorized by this chapter, a county board of supervisors shall
establish a child and family interagency coordinating council.
   (2) A council established pursuant to this subdivision shall plan,
implement, monitor, and evaluate the pilot program.
   (b) A county board of supervisors may designate an existing
interagency coordination council to perform the functions specified
in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) if the existing interagency
coordination council meets the representation requirements of Section
18987.25.
   (c) City and local education agency representatives shall be
appointed by the appropriate governing bodies.
   (d) The board of supervisors shall undertake reasonable measures
to ensure that membership of the interagency coordinating council
reflects the cultures and ethnicities of the pilot program area.
   (e) The board of supervisors of a county, as a condition of
participation in the pilot program, shall approve both the strategic
plan developed pursuant to Section 18987.3 and the county's
participation in the pilot program authorized by this chapter.  If
city or school services or funds are included in the pilot program,
the strategic plan shall also be approved by the governing bodies of
any city or local education agency whose services or funds will be
involved in the pilot program.
   (f) Counties desiring to participate in the extended pilot program
shall submit to the California Health and Human Services Agency
updated strategic plans, including, but not limited to, updated
performance outcomes and indicators, not later than March 31, 2001.

  SEC. 7.  Section 18987.3 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:
   18987.3.  Each child and family interagency coordinating council
shall develop a strategic plan for implementation of the pilot
program.  The plan shall contain all of the following:
   (a) A list of the members of the county child and family
interagency coordinating council, and a description of project
responsibilities for each member.
   (b) Identification of the county or the area within the county to
be served by blended funds.
   (c) A description of the population to be served, the amount and
types of current services available from public, private
not-for-profit, and community-based services agencies, the needs of
that population, and the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the
services to be provided.
   (d) A timeline showing how the county proposes to implement the
pilot project.
   (e) A description of existing collaborative, integrated services
efforts and how the strategies proposed for the pilot program will be
used in conjunction with these efforts.
   (f) A description of the services to be funded by the county child
and family services fund.
   (g) An identification of the state and local funds to be
consolidated and how those blended funds shall be used.
   (h) (1) A description of an evaluation plan that meets all of the
following requirements:
   (A) It is based on community needs and service plans.
   (B) It includes baseline data and performance indicators and
outcomes relevant to services funded by the county child and family
services fund.
   (C) It measures outcomes for children, families, and communities
targeted by the pilot project.
   (D) It utilizes, where applicable, state-adopted performance and
outcome measures developed for specific populations included in the
county plan.
   (2) The evaluation shall also identify obstacles encountered in
implementation of the pilot program.
  SEC. 8.  Section 18987.36 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:
   18987.36.  The board of supervisors of each participating county
shall submit to the California Health and Human Services Agency all
of the following:
   (a) An annual report showing which funds were transferred into the
county child and family services fund and an annual status update
indicating the extent to which the plan has been implemented.
   (b) Interim evaluation reports on the implementation and
measurements of progress toward performance outcomes of the pilot
program, to be submitted following the second and fourth year, and
not later than six months after the sixth year of the implementation
of the pilot program.
   (c) A final evaluation of the pilot program, to be submitted not
later than six months prior to the completion of the pilot program.

  SEC. 9.  Section 18987.4 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:
   18987.4.  (a) (1) There is hereby created in the State Treasury
the Youth Pilot Program Fund.  State and federal moneys that, if
distributed to a designated county, could be transferred to a county
child and family services fund, may be transferred, at the direction
of the designated county, to the Youth Pilot Program Fund for the
purposes specified in subdivision (c) of Section 18987.
Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, moneys in the
fund are continuously appropriated, without regard to fiscal years,
to the State Department of Social Services to be allocated to and
expended by counties in accordance with county strategic plans
developed pursuant to Section 18987.3.
   (2) The Director of Finance may authorize the transfer of funds
appropriated pursuant to the following items of the Budget Act of
1996 and budget acts thereafter to implement this section.
   (A) State Department of Health Services, Item 4260-101-0001 or
Item 4260-111-0001, or any combination thereof.
   (B) State Department of Mental Health, Item 4440-101-0001(c)
(Program 10.47, Children's Mental Health Services) or Item
4440-131-0001 (Program 10.80, Special Education Pupils Program), or
any combination thereof.
   (C) State Department of Social Services, Item 5180-101-0001, Item
5180-141-0001, or Item 5180-151-0001 or any combination thereof.
   (3) Amounts transferred pursuant to paragraph (2) shall be limited
to those amounts that would otherwise be allocated to those
designated counties.
   (b) The Director of Finance shall provide written notification to
the chairperson of the appropriate budget and policy committees in
each house of the Legislature upon transfer of any funds into the
Youth Pilot Program Fund.
   (c) Moneys in the fund shall be available for encumbrance until
July 1, 2006, at which time all unencumbered moneys in the fund shall
revert to the General Fund.
   (d) It is the intent of the Legislature to continue the commitment
to maximize federal matching funds for state and county programs.
   (e) It is the intent of the Legislature that the Youth Pilot
Program Fund shall be continuously appropriated only for the purpose
of implementing the Youth Pilot Program pursuant to this chapter, and
a continuously appropriated fund shall not be used to implement the
provisions of this chapter, should they be extended beyond the pilot
program.
   (f) This section shall remain operative only until July 1, 2004,
shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2005, and as of that
date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted
before January 1, 2005, deletes or extends that date.
  SEC. 10.  Section 18987.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:
   18987.5.  This chapter shall remain operative only until July 1,
2004, shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2005, and as of
that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, which is
enacted before January 1, 2005, deletes or extends that date.
